Biocidal efficacy of two medicinal plant oil extracts used as termicides against subterranean termitesMacrotermes subhyalinusL.

Abstract

Laboratory investigations of insecticidal activities of Datura stramonium and Thevetia neriifolia against Macrotermes subhyalinus (Isoptera: Termitidae) were conducted in the Food Storage Laboratory, Federal University of Technology, Akure. In the conditions of 28 ± 2 °C ambient temperature and 75 ± 5% relative humidity, 1–3% concentration chloroform extracts of seeds and leaves of the botanicals were tested for their effect on mortality of M. subhyalinus, and the treatments were replicated four times. The positive control (commercial termiticide; Diazate 60 EC), negative control (untreated control), and solvent control were also set up. The results showed that the extracts were effective in controlling termite infestation. Although most botanicals are not as effective as chemicals, they are nontoxic, eco-friendly, cheap, biodegradable, and renewable sources. After 8 h of exposure, the seed extract of D. stramonium showed higher bioactivity on termites than the seed extract of T. neriifolia did. The resul...